On cultivating atmosphere

I’ve contemplated often these days —the beauty and purpose behind the role of a homemaker.

I’m in the business of social media. I regularly craft reels and graphics for clients, pairing perfect music with aesthetic video to bring a truly captivating experience.

We can often scoff —and perhaps rightfully so —that these 30 second long videos are not a true reflection of our reality.

But what if instead of only sharing the raw reality to be viewed as more “transparent”, we sought to simultaneously cultivate a reality that is bathed in Gospel beauty?

We can not avoid the toddler tantrums, the baskets piled high of unfolded clothes waiting to be tackled.

These are our tasks to be conquered, but we can invite beauty into these moments.

A playlist that rightly fits the atmosphere to cultivate hearts of worship.
A well timed tea time with the kiddos to draw them in rather than pushing them further out.
A stack of new library books to inspire a moment of quiet.

A dinner table set with just a few “extras” to demonstrate the love and care you have for your family. Adding a pitcher of ice water and cups, placemats or sprigs of green don’t have to take more than a moment of time.

Don’t get me wrong - we’ll never attain an airbrushed version of living. There will be no perfection attained on this journey through life.

But we are the cultivators of worship and beauty here in our homes —how are we doing at this high calling?

I have been challenged afresh while reading this book with my newly launched book club!

Not perfection, but diligence.
Not for others to applaud, but for my family to bask in.
Not to feel good about myself, but to see real connection and joy in my family.


And as we approach Easter, I don’t have elaborate plans of how we will go through this week together. But I’m taking time to play this quickly curated playlist to draw my children into worship.
We will read stories together to mediate on Gospel truths a bit more.

We will fail and be flawed at it all, but I will cover every effort in a prayer for grace —that God himself might take my meager offerings within these walls and minister to the hearts here inside.

That I might create an atmosphere of worship today for the people who dwell here.